The first watch, asking for pink.

****

A few days after Lian Manman’s family had finished making buns, Zhang Qingshan, Lady Li, Zhang Qingnian and his wife, and Zhang Caiyun came over. This was their family’s tradition of bringing New Year’s gifts to their married daughter, Lady Zhang.

One bundle of frozen pears, one bundle of Ya pears, one bundle of fragrant pears, one bundle of plums, and one bundle of Balixiang.

This "bundle" is a specific term used by families in the mountains who grow fruit trees. It refers to a large basket woven from vines, covered with a lid, with pear leaves laid around on the inside, and the lid tied securely with more vines. After fruit is picked in the fall, if it’s not sold immediately, it’s packed in these baskets and stored in a cellar, allowing them to be kept for a considerable time. Each bundle of fruit weighs at least fifty to sixty catties.

Additionally, there were hawthorns, dates, sour dates, and other fruits fully packed into several baskets.

There were also burlap bags containing walnuts, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. Then there were dried pear and apricot slices that Lady Li herself had pickled and dried, as well as various dried mushrooms like naturally red mushrooms, pine mushrooms, hazelnut mushrooms—and dried black fungus which were all indispensable.

Finally, Zhang Qingnian took out two plump hens with their wings bound from the cart.

This year, Lian Manman’s family also had old hens, but Lady Li, caring for her daughter, said those were hens she raised in the orchard in the mountains, and they were more nourishing than those raised in the grassy areas. In truth, Lady Li still felt that Lady Zhang had weakened her body, otherwise, even if they were to send chickens, they would have sent more suitable roosters for stewing.

Everyone entered the house, and seeing that everyone was looking well, they were relieved and happy, affectionately sitting together on the kang to chat. Lady Zhang even made a point to send someone to the town to bring Xiao Qi back early from private school.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, are you keeping well?" Lian Shouxin chatted with Zhang Qingshan while they sat on the kang.

In tenant farming families, men typically refer to their wives’ parents the same as their own, calling them father and mother to their face, but using the terms father-in-law and mother-in-law when speaking with others. However in the Lian family, men like Lian Shouxin called them father-in-law and mother-in-law even to their face.

"All is well, all is well." Zhang Qingshan said heartily, smiling.

At this point, Xiao Qi had been brought back. As soon as he got off the cart at the door, he ran inside, first diving into Zhang Qingnian’s arms, being spun around for a couple circles, then diving into Zhang Qingshan’s embrace.

Zhang Qingshan could no longer keep talking to Lian Shouxin.

Lady Li chuckled, unable to close her mouth from smiling at the sight of her little grandson, then took Xiao Qi into her arms from Zhang Qingshan.

After chatting and laughing for a while, the conversation naturally shifted to Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou, who had returned from Taicang. Zhang Qingshan then instructed Zhang Qingnian and Lady Zhang Wang to visit Old Master Zheng in town. Apparently, they had also brought gifts for Old Master Zheng.

"Let your animals rest, I will arrange for someone to hitch a ride for you." Lian Shouxin offered, "When you come back, bring Old Master Zheng and those brothers over too, so they can accompany Father-in-law for a convivial time and have a few drinks."

Zhang Qingshan didn’t have much to say, but from his expression, one could tell he was quite satisfied.

"Let’s go down to the ground. I’m going to visit your father." Zhang Qingshan got off the kang, pointing at the other baskets they had brought, speaking to Lian Shouxin.

Zhang Qingshan had brought gifts for Old Master Lian and Lady Zhou as well and intended to visit them.

Lady Zhang stayed home with Lady Li and didn’t go, while Wu Lang had some business to attend to and did not go either, so only Lian Shouxin accompanied Zhang Qingshan. Zhang Caiyun was curious about the old mansion and coaxed Lian Manman to go along. If Lian Manman was going, Xiao Qi, eager for excitement, wanted to follow. A few children scrambled to carry the baskets, trailing Zhang Qingshan and Lian Shouxin, laughing and joking as they headed towards the old mansion.

Just a few steps into the village entrance, they heard heart-wrenching crying coming from the direction of the Lian Family Old Mansion.

"Sister, that sounds like our grandma." Xiao Qi tilted his ear to listen and said to Lian Manman. This little guy had sharp eyes and ears; nothing could escape him.

Lian Manman frowned slightly, also recognizing it was Lady Zhou’s voice, feeling somewhat puzzled. The crying wasn’t filled with sorrow but anger. It certainly wasn’t because of Lian Xiuxiu. By rights, with Lady Zhou at the old mansion now, no one would dare to defy her, let alone make her this angry.

The group hurried their pace, arriving at the old mansion’s gate, pushed it open, and saw Lady Zhou holding onto the Upper Room’s door frame, crying and cursing. In front of her, the one being scolded wasn’t anyone from the Lian family, but the Wife of He Laoliu and her three children.